Amid discussions of a potential merger within the NCP, Sunil Tatkare, the Maharashtra unit chief, emphasized that the party is currently part of the NDA and will continue this alliance in the future. Tatkare clarified that the decision to join the NDA was made collectively under the leadership of Ajit Pawar and remains unchanged.
He reiterated that Ajit Pawar had consistently supported being in government with the BJP since 2014/2019, and the party remains dedicated to the NDA partnership. Tatkare made these statements while accompanying Sunetra Pawar, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, during meetings with top leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Regarding the possibility of a merger or other developments, Tatkare mentioned that the party unanimously decided to appoint Sunetra Pawar as the leader of the legislative party. He also highlighted the support of senior leaders like Praful Patel, Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, and Dhananjay Munde for this decision.
When asked about the potential inclusion of the Sharad Pawar faction in the NDA, Tatkare refrained from giving a direct response, citing the historical stance of aligning with the BJP for governance. He emphasized that the party’s participation in the NDA aligns with its original secular ideology and commitment to social equality principles.
NCP sources indicated that discussions about a merger with the Sharad Pawar faction have not taken place following Ajit Pawar’s demise, suggesting that the likelihood of a merger is now slim. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar postponed a scheduled press conference on merger talks to focus on inquiries into Ajit Pawar’s accidental death.
